Today it’s common to see bands and musicians re-recording classic albums, and things can be faced in many ways: the first is the trust that a classic set of songs can call the attention of the fans without greater efforts, the second is really to pay homage to the past, and some use the opportunity to fix things in a better way. There are others, and the reader has the right to choose one on their own. But imagine a classic as “Balls to the Wall” (released back in 1983, and that catapulted the German quintet ACCEPT to mainstream), being totally re-recorded with some guests. No need to force things, because DIRKSCHNEIDER did that on “Balls to the Wall Reloaded”. Everyone knowns many ideas and debates will happen, but the main idea about this re-recorded version is that many known artists that were influenced by the original album were asking if Udo was planning a homage for the 40th anniversary of “Balls to the Wall”.

The idea was to make it again (respecting the original features of the songs) but with many guests singing and sharing the vocals with Udo, what depicts the range of influence that the album exerts to many generations since its original release. Opportunism or homage, chose your side, but no one can deny that “Balls to the Wall Reloaded” is truly a great release. The sonority is the main difference between the original version and this one (leaving aside the guests on the vocals): its modern, clean and defined, but always keeping the weight and aggressiveness that were presented originally. And the melodic side of the songs are better understood now (think: the difference between an 80s recording and a modern one is huge).

This new version is really very good, and classics as “Balls to the Wall” (always heavy and thunderous, with Joakim Brodén of SABATON making very good contrasts), “London Leatherboys” (the greasy and grooving instrumental lines serves for Udo and Biff Byford of SAXON to show a fine duet), “Fight It Back” (here the vocals’ contrasts are extremely evident due the snarling tunes of Mille Petrozza of KREATOR). “Head Over Heels” (one of the band’s greater classics on the album, and the vocals of Nils Molin of DYNAZTY and AMARANTHE really gave a very good taste to the song), “Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had” (Michael Kiske of HELLOWEEN is here, so be prepared for some surprising lines), “Love Child” (wow, how the tunes of Ylva Eriksson of BROTHERS OF METAL fits perfectly), “Turn Me On” (Danko Jones of HATEFUL SNAKE, and former member of METAL AGAINST CORONAVIRUS, DANKO JONES, DAPPER DAN TRIO, HORSHACK, IRON MAGAZINE, VIOLENT BROTHERS and others show his talent on this insane duet), “Losers and Winners” (here is Dee Snider, known for TWISTED SISTER and DEE SNIDER singing as Hell), “Guardian of the Night” (the screamed high-pitched tunes of Tim “Ripper” Owens of KK’S PRIEST are amazing here, indeed), and “Winter Dreams” (with Doro Pesch on the vocals, and everyone knows that she’s used to sing along with Udo in many occasions, and again, a great duet between them is heard). There’s nothing more to say about guitars, bass guitar and drums that isn’t perfect, with some little differences from the original (mainly on the guitar solos). Simply this.

Again: all people can debate and defend their own ideas about “Balls to the Wall Reloaded”, freedom it’s like this. But no one can deny that DIRKSCHNEIDER did a great work, indeed.